四教義 1.8

1.8

Third, regarding explaining the name of the distinctive teaching: "distinctive" is an exclusive name. This teaching is not expounded in common with people of the two vehicles; therefore it is called the distinctive teaching. This teaching properly clarifies the principle of the boundless four noble truths and causes and conditions as provisional designations. It specifically transforms bodhisattvas and does not involve the two vehicles; therefore śrāvakas in the assembly were as if deaf and dumb. When the Lotus Sūtra clarifies Kāśyapa's expression of understanding, he recounted of himself: "In the past, hearing in the Vaipulya and Dàpǐn about 'purifying Buddha lands and maturing sentient beings,' our minds took no joy in it"—this is precisely its meaning. What is called "distinctive" has multiple meanings, but eight are briefly explained: first, distinctive teaching; second, distinctive principle; third, distinctive wisdom; fourth, distinctive severance; fifth, distinctive practice; sixth, distinctive stages; seventh, distinctive cause; and eighth, distinctive fruit. Hence it is called the distinctive teaching. "Distinctive teaching" means that the Buddha expounded the Buddha-dharmas numerous as the sands of the Ganges distinctively for bodhisattvas, not shared by the two vehicles. "Distinctive principle" means the distinctiveness of the storehouse consciousness containing the principle of conventional truth numerous as the sands of the Ganges. "Distinctive wisdom" is the wisdom of the aspects of the path. "Distinctive severance" is the severing of unknowing numerous as dust and sand, and of view, thought, and fundamental ignorance beyond the realms. "Distinctive practice" is the distinctiveness of cultivating the various pāramitās through eons numerous as dust and sand, practicing for one's own benefit and transforming others. "Distinctive stages" is the distinction wherein the thirty minds subduing fundamental ignorance constitute the stages of the worthy, and the ten grounds realizing the real and severing fundamental ignorance constitute the stages of the noble. "Distinctive cause" is the unobstructed vajra cause. "Distinctive fruit" is that the four virtues of liberation and nirvāṇa differ from those of the two vehicles. Although there are eight distinctive meanings, it is simply termed the distinctive teaching because without relying on the distinctive teaching, one would not know the distinctive principle, nor ultimately attain the distinctive fruit. Question: "Why not speak of it as the unshared teaching, rather than using the name distinctive teaching?" Answer: "The Dà zhìdù lùn clarifies 'unshared prajñā' as that which is not expounded in common with people of the two vehicles, as in the Inconceivable Sūtra. Now in clarifying the distinctive teaching, as when expounding the Vaipulya and Dàpǐn, the two vehicles hear it together yet it distinctively instructs bodhisattvas; therefore the name 'distinctive' is used. In addition, it is intended to distinguish it from the perfect teaching; and although 'distinctive' differs from 'shared,' it is still a designation for that which is not yet perfect."